Legal basement apartments in Toronto are governed by Chapter 150 of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013. Basement apartments are becoming increasingly popular in Ontario. For the landlord, a basement apartment represents an opportunity to earn a little more money, pay off the mortgage faster, or perhaps more space for the extended family. Those who are new to life usually prefer basement apartments because of their lower entry costs and lack of maintenance. But is the basement apartment you have a legal basement apartment? In this guide, we`ll break down the basics of a legal basement apartment, provide examples, and hopefully provide advice on the legal aspects of basement apartments. Converting your basement to another living space seems like a lot of work, right? If you plan to rent an apartment in the basement, it is advisable to ask the owner for the 3 proofs. No-show could mean that you are renting an illegal apartment in the basement. Basement apartments that are not legal present a fire hazard and other safety issues, such as insufficient building exits, fire separations between units, functional smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and illegal and dangerous electrical and plumbing connections. Mississauga City Council approved a plan to allow the second unit on July 3, 2013.

The program includes official plan guidelines, zoning by-laws and permit requirements. It will enter into force in January 2014. Second legal units are permitted in single-family homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses (maximum of one basement apartment per house) and must: Even if your basement apartment is considered “illegal”, the lease and the protection it offers are not automatically considered null and void. The tenant would still have the same rights as any other tenant in Ontario. Landlords don`t want to absorb the additional (and substantial) costs of legal driving, and that`s why we have so many illegal basement apartments in Toronto. When visiting a 5-plex for sale, ask the listing agent, “Is there a certificate?” That is all you have to say. He or she knows what you are looking for. The technical drawings and plans required to obtain a building permit from the City of Toronto to construct or legalize a separate entrance to the basement apartment cost $1,595 + HST. A $500 discount applies if we prepare the drawings to legalize the basement apartment in the same place. Me and my family, we rent a townhouse about 3 years ago and there are basements, but it`s not finished like there were no proper bathrooms or secure kitchen and all the electrical controls and water locks in the basement, but when my dad rented it, the owner told him that he wanted to finish the basement and then give it to rent, but now he came and lives only in the cellar. Is that vatodo?? To avoid the excavation depth of 4 feet at the bottom of the existing basement foundation to provide frost protection, the required frost protection could be achieved by digging 1 foot below the exit degree, installing vertical insulation against the basement basement, extending the insulation horizontally over a length that corresponds to the frost depth (usually 4 feet) of the bottom of the foundation, Overlap of insulation at horizontal and vertical transition and slope of insulation relative to basement foundation for heat storage under the foundation and adequate drainage away from the foundation. What do you do in this situation? If I don`t intend to use the basement as a second home, will insurance still have a problem if something goes wrong? P.S.

The intention is to develop the basement for a parent who lives there and can rent it much later when the parent moves. For more information on the review of the City`s basement apartment policy, please contact Daniella Balasal, Brampton City Policy Planner, at 905-874-2061; by fax 905-874-2099; daniella.balasal@brampton.ca by email So, since I don`t know what it means to legalize a basement apartment, I will provide you with my “point of contact” if a client asks me to.